Students and family members gathered in Newtown High School’s cafetorium on Tuesday, February 3, to celebrate 23 students who have completed graduation requirements.

A reception, with food provided by the high school’s culinary department, was held along with the ceremony.

NHS Guidance Director Cathy Ostar introduced the event and thanked everyone who helped make the evening possible, including the parents of the graduates.

Students who were recognized during the graduation ceremony were David Bauch, Sydney Chiarito, Alexander Coscia, Gabriella Durkin, Cassie Erikson, Kalianna Faust, Nicole Ferraz, Paulina Frutos, Peter Hirst, Lilia Hutchison, Sean Kemsley, Chandavy Kim, Matthew Kornhaas, George Kovacs, Robert Lasher, Anthony Ledley, Marissa Liberante, Adam Liscinsky, Rebecca Pearson, Helena Reznikoff, Amber Shaw, Renee Sturges, and Sierra Tommey. Not all of the students were present for the event.

NHS senior Faith Periera sang the national anthem for the ceremony, before Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, spoke to the crowd.

Dr Erardi spoke to the graduates about running races. A marathon, he said as a runner, is 26 miles, and as long as a runner crosses the finish line, whether first or not, Dr Erardi said it does not matter, “as long as you persevere and get it done.”

“I think along the way, if you are a runner and you have crossed the finished line, sometimes there is a greater satisfaction that comes from the race. It was your own journey. It was your own perseverance. You took responsibility for your own action, and you made a conscious decision along the way: it doesn’t matter what the hurdles were, it didn’t matter how you stepped over them, you chose to go forward,” Dr Erardi said.

Dr Erardi, while noting that he is relatively new to Newtown, also said he takes “extraordinary pride” in attending the midyear graduation ceremony. The celebration, the superintendent continued, was the same as the commencement ceremony that will be held in June, as both celebrate “outstanding youngsters who have done great things.”

Speaking to the students, Dr Erardi said to take a moment following the ceremony to pat themselves on the back for completing the race.

“I stand here awfully proud,” Dr Erardi continued, “of each one of you.”

NHS Principal Lorrie Rodrigue spoke next, telling the students that she knows this moment in their lives is both well-deserved and exciting.

“I can tell you that so many of us in the room right now would love nothing more than to relive that same feeling you’re experiencing this evening of achievement and accomplishment that comes with getting your high school diploma,” Dr Rodrigue said.

 Continuing, Dr Rodrigue said she is sure that behind the students are some sleepless nights of finishing a social studies assignment or studying for exams. During those nights, Dr Rodrigue said, the students probably wondered whether graduation would really come.

“But it did,” the principal said, “and all of us here tonight could not be any prouder.”

The ceremony and evening event, Dr Rodrigue said, was more than  a celebration of hard work and effort, as it symbolizes  visions and choices the students made as a learner.

Dr Rodrigue shared the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson as advice for the students, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail instead.” Doing so,  Dr Rodrigue said, takes passion, courage, and persistence.

“This is all we can hope for each of you,” said Dr Rodrigue.

On behalf of the NHS staff and administration, Dr Rodrigue wished the students the best of luck and success in the future.

Graduate Lilia Hutchison shared her words with her fellow students.

“I believe in the power of knowing oneself and loving oneself, because nothing is more important than knowing and accepting who you are,” Lilia said near the start of her speech. “To this I must also say I believe in the power of bad days and the negative situations and energies that we can feel at times. I think the spirit cannot grow without that experience, in the same way that good cannot exist without evil…”

Lilia went on to say that bad things, she has found, are met with growth and strength. She also told the students to relish unexpected moments, to stop and appreciate the beauty the world has to offer, to laugh, “accept who you are,” enjoy alone time, do not be afraid to love new people you meet, and accept the love of those who “want to love you.”

Graduate Cassie Erikson shared a poem called “Metamorphosis” with the assembled group, before the graduating students were individually recognized for their accomplishments.

Each student was called by name by Ms Ostar to walk across the cafetorium’s stage, and shake hands with Dr Erardi, Dr Rodrigue, and NHS staff.